Ventilating and cooling means for cooking ranges



Dec. 23, 1952 E. s'. PoLLocK 2,622,582

VENTILATING AND COOLING MEANS FOR COOKING RANGES Filed April 12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. 4* [a/ i Po//oc/ /f JW; M//fm Dec. 23, 1952 E. s. PoLLocK VENTILATING AND COOLING MEANS FOR COOKING RANGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April l2, 1949 INVENTOR.

' .5H/V 5i P0 //0 CA l Dec. 23, 1952 E. s. PoLLocK 2,622,582

VENTILATING ANO comme MEANS FOR COOKING RANGES Filed April 12, 1949 s Sheng-sheet s any Patented Dec. 23, 1952 VENTILATING AND COOLING MEANS FOR COOKING RANGES Earl S. Pollock, Lexington, Ohio, assignor to The Tappan Stove Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,943

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a Ventilating and cooling means for cooking ranges. It is especially adapted for small utility ranges such as are extensively used today in small apartment kitchenettes and in-a-door cooking cupboards provided in many hotel one and two-room suites.

These utility ranges usually comprise an oven which extends from side to side Iand from the front to the rear of the range, and a plurality of top burners which are disposed in a chamber between the top of the oven and the top of the stove. The control valves for the burners are disposed within the top burner compartment and the valve stems thereof extend through a front panel which constitutes the front wall of the top burner compartment `and extends across the front of the range directly above the oven door. An operating handle is secured to the projecting end of each of the valve stems.

It has been found by experience that no matter how well a range is constructed a certain amount of heat will escape from the oven around the edges of the oven door. Most of this heat leaks out over the top of the door and ows up along the front panel and around the valve operating handles. This escaping heat is suiiicent to eventually heat the operating handles to such a'degree that they cannot be grasped by the bare hand without danger of burning. Also this escaping heat is very objectionable to a person standing close to the stove while tending to something cooking on the top burners of the stove.

It is the principal object of my invention to eliminate this flow of heat escaping upwardly along the front panel and around the valve operating handles. Since it is impracticable, if not impossible, to make the oven door t so tightly when closed thatk heat cannot leak out over the top thereof, I provide means to direct the escaping heat away from the front panel of the stove and discharge it elsewhere, preferably through the oven venting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple and effective means, for accomplishing the aforesaid object, which can be incorporated in a range without materially altering the construction thereof.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing forming a f part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a small utility type cooking range having my invention incorporated therein; Fig. v2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken from the front to the rear of the range,

2 the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l; l

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken. from side to side of the range, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing .a slightly modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of my invention in which the 'discharge conduit communicates with an opening in the top of the range instead of in the splash back; and

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing another modified form of my invention in which the discharge conduit communicates with a complementary opening through a top burner grate.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral I indicates generally a utility type cooking range having an oven 2 which extends from the front to the rear of the range and from side to side thereof. The side walls 3, the A.rear wall 4 and the top wall 5 of the oven are al1 insulated andeach comprises spaced inner and outer metal sheets with the space therebetween filled with suitable insulating material 6. The front of the oven is normally closed by a door 'I which is swingingly connected to the frame of the range by hinges (not shown) disposed at either the bottom or at one side thereof, preferably at the bottom of the door so that the door when open will swing downwardly. The door 'I comprises spaced front and rear walls 8 and 9 and a peripheral wall Iii, all formed from sheet metal. The enclosed space is also filled with suitable insulating material I I. The door is adapted to be opened and closed through the medium of a handle I2. The top and side walls of the oven are secured to and extend rearwardly from the frame I3 of the range.

A top burner chamber I4 is provided between the top wall 5 of the oven 2, and the top I 5 of the stove. The chamber I4 is open at the rear thereof and is closed at the front by the :panel I6 and at the sides by the walls Il. A plurality of burners I8, preferably four in number, are suitably mounted in the chamber I4 beneath openings I9 in the top of the range. Suitable grates 2|] are arranged over the opening I9. An oven burner (not shown) is mounted beneath the oven 2. Gas is supplied to all burners from a manifold 2| which extends across the chamber I4, just behind the front panelA I6., The supply of gas to all burners is regulated by valves 22 which are dis- .posed within the chamber I4, there being a separate valve for each burner. Each of the valves 22 has a valve stem 23 which extends out through the front panel I6. An operating handle is secured to the projecting end of each of the valve stems 23. The handle for the top burner control valves are indicated by 24, and the handle for the oven burner control valve is indicated by 25. A splash back 26 is formed integral with and extends upwardly from the top I of the range at the rear thereof across the range from side to side thereof. The splash back 26 consists of the front wall 21, the top wall 28, and the side walls 29. The front Wall 21 is disposed a short distance forwardly of the rear of the range, thus providing a closed chamber 30 when-the rear of the range is flush against a room wall.

Within the chamber I4 spaced from the top of the oven wall 5 I provide a partition 3| which extends from the front panel I6 to the rear plane of the range, and from side wall I1 to side wall I1. This partition slopes upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2', from the front to the rear of the range and provides a chamber 32 which is open across the front thereof as indicated at 33. The rear end of the chamber 32 is closed by a plate 34 which extends across the back of theA range from sidewall I1 to side wall I1. Adjacent the rear end of the partition 3I I provide an opening 35 therethrough. The opening 35 communicates with a discharge opening 36 through the front wall 21 of the splash back through a conduit 31 which extends upwardly from the opening 35 within the chamber 33 into register with the opening 36. If desired the discharge opening 36 may be covered by 4a screen 3`8-secured to a suitable frame 39.

In order to vent the oven 2, I providean opening 40 through the rear wall 4 thereof. A conduit 4I open at its upper end extends fromy the opening 40 up through the chamber 32 and opening 35 andinto the conduit 31, the upper open end of the conduit 4I terminating a short distance above the partition 3lr within the conduit 31 as shown at 42" in Figs. 2 and 3. The conduit 4I is made slightly smaller than the opening 35 and con-` duit 31 in order to provide a peripheral space between the outer walls of the conduit 4I and the inner walls of theconduit 31. Gases from the oven are discharged through the opening 40 andl up through the conduit 4I into the conduit 31 and'thence out through the discharge opening 35.

As previously stated, it has been found by experience that in the manufacture of cooking ranges it is not practicable to try to fit the oven door so tightly that heat cannot escape around the edges thereof. Even if an oven door was originally tted thisY accurately it would soon loose up during use. Mostl of the heat escaping from the oven of a range as heretofore constructed passes up through a small space 43 between the inner face of the oven door and the'frame I3. Then it flows out through the space 44 above the oven door and up along the front of the panel I6 and around the operating handles 24v and 25. This escape of heat over the top of the oven door is very objectionable for the reasons previously stated, in that it eventually heats the operating handles 24 and 25 until they are too hot to grasp by the naked hand, and renders it uncomfortable for a person standing close to the front of the range while tending to something cooking on the top of the range.

With my construction any hot gases escaping from'the-oven'through.the space 43 will fp'ass into the chamber 32 through the open end 33 thereof. After entering the chamber 32 the gases flow rearwardly and out through the opening 35 into the conduit 31 from which they are discharged to the atmosphere through the screen 38 disposed in the discharge opening 36 in the splash back 26. The oW of gases from the front to the rear of the chamber 32 is due to the upward slope of the top 3| of the chamber 32 as it extends rearwardly. ThisY rearward flow of the hot gases is greatly facilitated by the flow of gases being vented from the oven 2 through the conduit 4I into the conduit 3-1. The conduit 4I being smaller than the opening 35 and conduit 31 and being so disposed with relation thereto that a peripheral space, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided between the conduit 4| and the conduit 31, gases passing from the conduit 4I into the conduit 31 will produce an injector `action and draw gases from the chamber 31 through the opening 35 into the conduit 31 from which they are discharged through the screen-38.

As hot gases are drawn rearwardly in the chamber 32 and into the discharge conduit 31 cool air will be drawn into the chamber 32 through the space 44 above the oven door 1 and will flow rearwardly in the chamber 32. This cool air will cool the walls of the chamber 32 and retard the flow of heat through the top wall 3I into the top burner chamber I4, thus keeping the top I5 of the range from being uncomfortably hot.

In Fig. 5 I have shown-a slightly modified form of my invention. As shown therein I bevel the upper end of the oven door 1', as indicated at 50, and provide a handle 5I thereover. The handle 5I comprises end walls 52 and an arcuate front and top wall 53. The wall 53 extends between the end Walls 52 and is spaced from the front wall of the oven door to provide an open ended passageway 54 therebetween. The upper end of the passageway 54 discharges intothe chamber 32 through the opening 33 asv indicated at 55. Air will be drawn into the passageway 54 through the open lower end 56 and after owing up through the passageway 54 Will be discharged at 55 into the chamber 32; With this construction a greater amount of cool air is drawn into the chamber 32 than in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Otherwise the two forms are identical in construction and operation.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention. In this form of my invention I locate the discharge opening 36 in the top I5 of the range, just forwardly of the front wall 21 of the splash back 26, instead of in the front wall 21 of the splash back; and I extend the oven vent opening 40' throughv the top wall 5 of the oven instead of through the rear wall 4 thereof. The upper end of the discharge conduit 31 registers with the opening 36 and the oven vent conduit 4I extends straight up from the vent opening 40 and into the discharge conduit 31. Otherwise the construction and operation of this form is the same as' that shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, and the same reference numerals are applied to. likeI parts.

In Fig. 7 I have shown another modified form of my invention. In this form of my invention th'eupper end of the discharge conduit 31 registers with a discharge opening 60 which extends through a rearward extension 6 I of a top burner grate 20. Spaced parallel arcuate shapedbars 62, which are integral with the grate 20, extend over the opening. 60. The' bars 62serve the' twofoldpurposek ofk preventing?articlesffallin'g'through the opening into the conduit 227, and keeping a vessel on the grate 2t from extending over and closing the discharge opening 59. Otherwise the construction and operation of this form is the same as that shown in Fig. 6 and the same reference characters are applied to like parts.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that I have provided a very simple and ecient construction for accomplishing the objects of my invention.

It is to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction shown and described herein as various modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cooking range having a top and a splash back extending upwardly from said top and an oven disposed below said top and normally closed by a door, the combinati-on of a partition dening a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed above said oven with the open end thereof disposed adjacent the upper end of the oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said opening behind said splash back and into register with a discharge opening through said splash back, an oven vent opening through the rear wall of said oven, and a conduit extending upwardly from said oven vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

2. In a cooking range having a top and an oven disposed below said top and normally closed by a door, the combination of a partition deiining a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed above said oven with the open end thereof disposed adjacent the upper end of the oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said vent opening, an oven vent opening through the rear wall of said oven, and a conduit extending upwardly from said oven Vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

3. In a cooking range having a top, a top burner disposed beneath a grate mounted over an opening through said top, and an oven disposed below said top and normally closed by a door the combination of; a partition defining a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed above said oven with the open end thereof disposed adjacent the upper end of said oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said vent opening into register with a discharge opening through said grate, an oven vent opening through the top wall of said oven, and a conduit extending upwardly from said oven vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

4. In a cooking range, a top burner compartment, an oven disposed below said top burner compartment, an oven door normally closing said oven, a partition defining a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed between said oven and said top burner compartment with the open end thereof disposed adjacent the top of oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said vent opening, an @ven vent opening extending through a wall of said oven, and a conduit extending upwardly from said oven vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional .area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

5. In a cooking range, a tcp wail, a top burner compartment under said top wall, an oven disposed below said top burner compartment, an oven door normaily closing said oven, a partition defining a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed between said oven and said top burner compartment with the open end thereof disposed adjacent the top of said oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said vent opening through said top burner compartment and into register with an opening in said top wall, an oven vent opening through the top wall of said oven, a conduit extending upwardly from said oven vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

6. In a cooking range, a top wall, an opening in said top wall, a burner grate in said opening, a top burner compartment under said top wall, an oven disposed below said top burner compartment, an oven door normally closing said oven, a partition dening a chamber open at the forward end thereof and disposed between said oven and said top burner compartment with the open end thereof disposed .adjacent the top of said oven door, a vent opening through said partition adjacent the rear end of said chamber, a discharge conduit extending upwardly from said vent opening through said top burner compartment and into register with an opening in said grate, an oven vent opening through the top wall of said oven, and a conduit extending upwardly from said oven vent opening through said vent opening and into said discharge conduit above said vent opening, the cross sectional area of said conduit being less than the cross sectional area of said discharge conduit or said vent opening.

EARL S. POLLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 223,977 Armour Feb. 3, 1880 1,505,273 Maul Aug. 19, 1925 2,237,795 Shroyer Apr. 8, 1941 2,376,571 Brumbaugh May 22, 1945 2,438,635 Buhman Mar. 16, 1948 2,526,890 Mendel Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 537,425 Germany Nov. 3, 1933 

